Official: Wolf hunt was effective

An examination of Montana’s first public gray-wolf hunt showed at least nine of the animals were killed in an area prone to livestock attacks — a finding that could blunt criticism that the hunt was ineffective. Confident state wildlife officials said they could increase the quota on the predators next year. They want to zero in on a number that would strike a balance between protecting the wolf population and stopping increasing attacks on livestock and big-game herds. However, the hunt in Montana and a wolf season in neighboring Idaho must first pass muster with a federal judge in Missoula. About 1,350 gray wolves in the Northern Rockies were removed from the endangered list in the spring. About 300 wolves in Wyoming remain on the list. In September, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy let this year’s hunts proceed in Montana and Idaho. But his ruling also said environmentalists were likely to prevail in their bid to restore federal protections. Arguments in the environmentalists’ case could come as early as February. Idaho and Montana officials — backed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — have said hunting can be done responsibly and is crucial to keeping wolf numbers in check...read more